1. Veterinary dental nursing procedures
HORSE DENTISTRY

2. Horse dentistry
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3. Dental formula Deciduous 2 ( I 3/3, P 3/3 ) = 24
Permanent 2 ( I 3/3, C 1/1 P 3-4/3 M 3/3) =
                                                                               
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4. Teeth change throughout life
Crown erupts slowly
Hypsodont
Neither open rooted (Elodont) nor closed rooted
Roots close slowly
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6. Crown erupts very slowly
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7. Canine & Wolf teeth
diastema
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8. Diastema A large gap between the teeth
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9. Incisor wear
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10. Aging Based largely on incisor wear
Have to consider other factors besides groove and wear patterns
Diet etc
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11. Dental ‘star’ = Receding ‘pulp’
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12. Hook & Galvayne’s groove
Upper I3
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14. 4 weeks
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15. 4-6 weeks
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16. 6-9 mths
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17. 2 ½ years
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18. 3 ½ years
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19. 4 ½ years
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20. 6 years
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21. 7 years
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22. Foals Acquire teeth – first week By 9 months full set of baby teeth
First adult molars – 9-12 months
Second molars – 2 years
Adult central incisors –erupt at 2.5 years
First PM ( wolf teeth) – erupts 2.5 years
Second PM – erupts 2.5 years
Third PM – 3 years
Lateral incisors and third molar – 3.5 years
Corner incisors and forth PM and Canines = 4.5 years
5 years complete set of permanent teeth
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24. Adults Galvaynes groove – on the surface of upper corner incisor
10 years – groove appears
15 years – half way down tooth
20 years – present entire length of tooth
25 years – groove begins to disappear from gum line first
30 years – groove gone
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25. Infundibulum
The surface ( table ) of the incisor crown has a marked depression called the infundibulum
Covered by enamel ( as is the crown and a part of the root )
Hence when the tooth wears 2 rings of enamel are seen an outer and inner ring
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26. Wear and Growth
The occlusal surface of the horses teeth are in constant wear and the tooth is continually erupting from the socket
Thus at successive periods of time, at first the crown, then the neck and finally the root are in wear
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29. Horse molars Grinding Large flat surface
Grinding causes the cementum and dentine to wear faster than enamel causing enamel ridges which provide a self – sharpening surface
Lower jaw narrower than upper – results in uneven wear
Outside border of upper teeth and inside border of lower teeth can develop sharp spikes which need to be filed ( rasped ) called floating
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30. Malocclusions Parrot mouth, sow mouth Maxilla too wide
All lead to sharp edges
Require regular floating
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31. ‘Parrot’ mouth
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32. Abnormal wear Cause hooks, points, sharp edges Wave mouth
Step mouth – sudden change in height of a tooth, usually when a tooth is lost
Treatment floating
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33. Wave Mouth
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34. Step Mouth
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35. Sharp Points
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36. Sharp Points
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37. Teething
Dental caps – retained deciduous cheek teeth, sharp, cut, trap food, bacterial overgrowth, periodontal disease and excessive salivation
Wolf ( first PM )- usually in maxilla, can be removed without GA, to prevent interferance with the bit, usually done at months old
Canine teeth may be absent in mare, may grow and traumatize opposite arcade or interfere with bridle, rasp down
Periodontal disease
Visible swellings occur along the mandible of young horses up to 4 years of age, hard, painless,cause no problems.
Theses structures are enlarged dental alveoli, characterised by periapical by periapical radiolucency, associated with pressure
Atrophy of the bone. They become smooth as the horse grows older and require no treatment
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38. Wolf Teeth Small teeth located in front of the lower second premolar
Short roots
A horse may have one, two, or none
Often removed by vets to prevent pain or interference from a bit (bit pulls lips onto tooth causing pain and ulceration)
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39. Pulling teeth Tongue pulled out to side
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40. Rasping = “Floating” Rasping sharp points off teeth
Mostly required in stabled horses
Pasture grit helps grind teeth
FLOATING & PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
The process of rasping or filing a horse's teeth is known as floating. This is the most common dental procedure veterinarians perform on horses. Floating removes sharp enamel points and can create a more even bite plane. It also helps keep incisors and cheek teeth at a desirable length.
When turned out on pasture, horses browse almost continuously, picking up dirt and grit in the process. This, plus the silicate in grass, wears down the teeth. Stabled horses, however, may not give their teeth the same workout. Feedings are more apt to be scheduled, not continuous, and to include processed grains and hays. Softer feeds require less chewing. This may allow the horse's teeth to become excessively long or to wear unevenly. Adult horse's teeth erupt throughout their life and are worn off by chewing.
Unfortunately, cheek teeth tend to develop sharp enamel points even under normal grazing conditions. Because the horse's lower jaw is narrower than its upper jaw and the horse grinds its feed with a sideways motion, sharp points tend to form along the edges. Points form on the cheek side of the upper teeth and the tongue side of the lower teeth. These points should be rasped to prevent them from cutting the cheeks and tongue.
Floating is especially important in horses who have lost a tooth, or whose teeth are in poor apposition and do not fit together well. Normally, contact with the apposing tooth keeps biting surfaces equal. When cheek teeth are out of alignment, hooks can form.
If left unchecked, these hooks can become long enough to penetrate the hard or soft palate. Small hooks can be removed by floating. Longer hooks are usually removed with molar cutters or a dental chisel.
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41. Floating requires Mouth Gag
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42. Horse dental gear
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43. ‘Float’ & ‘Rasp’
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44. ‘Floating’ teeth
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45. The End
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